Exclusive Summer Camp Activities Around the Country

Gone are the days of Camp Grenada complaint letter a la "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah." Today's popular retreats feature so many amenities and activities, kids can be forgiven for not even wanting to go home again. Here we've gathered some of the most exclusive destinations and activities for families looking to give their children the summer of a lifetime.

Camp Laurel

Wakeboarding, Surfing and Sailing at Camp Laurel

Located in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, this 160-acre retreat features "4 Championship Mastercraft Ski Boats, 6 Hobies, 18 Vanguards and Sunfish, 24 canoes and numerous other playaks and fun-craft," according to its website. From swimming to sailing to water polo to wakeboarding, no water sport is inaccessible. But if your child is not into getting wet, tennis, equestrian, backpacking, and an expansive arts program are all on offer too.(Tuition $11,400)

Timber Lake Camp

High Ropes at Timber Lake

If your child is a budding thrill-seeker, look no further than Timber Lake to sate that thirst. Zip lining, mountain biking, high ropes and low ropes courses are all on offer for young adventurists. If there is still energy leftover, campers can then take advantage of basketball, roller-hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, golf and lacrosse, as well as a huge inflatable slide on the waterfront. (Tuition $12,350)

Camp Mataponi

Golf at Camp Mataponi

This all-girl camp located in Maine features a cadre of outdoor athletics such as horseback riding, cheerleading, lacrosse, volleyball and soccer, as well as water-based activities, including tubing, waterskiing and more. But if daddy's little girl is more attuned to the creative arts, then she may enjoy the ceramics studio, theater production, and digital photography. (Tuition $11,400)

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Water-based Activities at Camp Wildwood

Boys will be boys at this all-male summer camp in Bridgton, Maine, where the abutting lake takes center stage. Swim lessons are a mandatory daily activity, but afterward campers can cut loose on massive water slide, and inflatable floating teepee, myriad boats, canoes, and wakeboarding. Or, they can mix it up with non-water sports, such as archery, floor hockey, and soccer.

Courtesy International Riding Camp

Horse Jumping at International Riding Camp

For girls obsessed with horses, this upstate New York retreat will allow campers to eat, sleep and breathe equine activities. Riding programs include daily lessons, stable management, as well as optional polo instruction and add-on field trips to luxe horseback destinations, such as New York City's Central Park, Hamptons beaches, Argentina and Russia. Time off of the saddle is no less enjoyable, with tennis, water skiing, swimming, arts and crafts and pottery available to all. (Tuition $15,100 for 10 weeks.)

At High Cascade in Portland, Oregon, young campers sign up for 8-day sessions focusing on snowboarding instruction, riding pipes and parks, access to pro boarders, and clinics on jumps and tricks. If your child still has energy afterward, they can enjoy additional activities off the hill, such as skateboarding, trampoline, dodgeball, mountain biking and more. (Tuition $1795+ for an 8-day session, multiple back-to-back sessions also available.)